Two-dimensional scattering of SH waves due to a discontinuity in bedrock

Abstract

The direct boundary integral equation technique is applied to determine the impact on surface amplification caused by an inhomogeneity in a bedrock half-space. The particular soil-rock configuration studied is one in which a soil layer rests on a rock half-space which includes a rock inclusion. The particular rock inclusion considered for this study is a semi-infinite rock layer with its upper boundary bordering the soil layer. Materials are considered viscoelastic except for the section of the rock half-space below the level of the rock inclusion which is considered elastic. A parametric study is performed to determine controlling factors for surface displacement due to a vertically incident shear wave. The study includes varying the stiffness and the thickness of the inclusion for a range of frequencies. Solutions from a one-dimensional analysis are compared with the results of a two-dimensional analysis in order to establish limits inside of which a two-dimensional analysis is required.